Summary
Sydney FC 4 (Brosque 8’, Mierzejewski 14’, Ninković 74’, Carney 85’) def. Wellington Phoenix 0
The Sky Blues were at their clinical best at Fortress Allianz as they punished Wellington with four unanswered goals, Brosque, Mierzejewski, Ninković and Carney all getting on the scoresheet.
Sydney FC pressed high up the pitch and carved out a number of opportunities from mistakes made by under-pressure Wellington defenders. NAB Man-of-the-Match Zullo was lively down the left flank all game, setting up Brosque’s goal and putting a couple of lovely crosses into the box.
The result sees the Sky Blues climb twelve points clear at the summit of the Hyundai A-League with eight games still to play.
What They Said
Graham Arnold: “We kept possession extremely well, we kept our structure very well and the score could’ve easily been a couple of figures,” Arnold said.
“We restricted them to just one shot, and these types of games can be a test because when you’re winning comfortably it can be easy to lose focus but we remained concentrated tonight.
“They [Sydney FC] entertain me on the sideline, when you see that frontline working together, the combination play and the opportunities we create, it is a fantastic front-line.”
Goals
8’ BROSQUE: Zullo breaks past his marker and surges down the touchline purposefully. He delivers a dangerous cross that is collected by Brosque and the Sky Blues captain proceeds to round Italiano on the fly, finishing into an empty net.
14’ MIERZEJEWSKI: Paracki and Durante get involved in a horrendous mix up with several Sydney players lurking high up the pitch. Brosque is alert to the opportunity and nicks the ball before back heeling it to tee up Mierzejewski in the Wellington box, the in-form Pole finishing powerfully into the corner of the net.
74’ NINKOVIĆ: Mullen fails to control a loose ball and it spills clear to Ninković. The Serbian playmaker is unhindered as he runs through on goal and confidently dinks the ball over the onrushing Italiano.
85’ CARNEY: Ninković breaks through Wellington’s defensive line and assesses the options ahead of him. He passes to Carney who subsequently lays the ball off to Calver. The young fullback’s first time cross is dangerous and Carney makes no mistake from 6 yards out.
Key Moments
16’ REDMAYNE OUTSTRETCHED: Ljujic fashions a bit of space and fancies an effort from some distance. The ball is destined for the bottom corner but the shot lacks power and Redmayne has it covered all the way.
23’ MIERZEJEWSKI GOES CLOSE: Bobô shows good vision to spot the run of Mierzejewski and his dinked through ball is right on the money. Adrian goes through one-on-one with Italiano but the angle is always against him and he is denied by the Phoenix keeper’s outstretched boot.
31’ MIERZEJEWSKI FREE KICK: Ninković wins a free kick in a dangerous area and Mierzejewski, who has been lethal from dead-ball situations this season, tests Italiano with a dipping effort.
32’ DURANTE GETS LUCKY: The Phoenix captain plays a pass back to his goalkeeper but doesn’t anticipate Italiano’s position and the ball nearly runs into the net for an own goal.
35’ BOBÔ JUST WIDE: Mierzejewski shows great strength to wriggle clear of two Phoenix players in the centre of the pitch. He plays the ball through to Bobô, who beats the offside trap but again the angle to goal is tight and the Brazilian’s effort flashes just wide of the post.
50’ ITALIANO TESTED: There’s plenty of space for Brillante in the centre of the park and he has time to pick a brilliantly weighted pass for Bobô to run onto. The striker produces a decent effort from a difficult position but Italiano is equal to it.
67’ NINKOVIĆ EVER SO CLOSE: Buijs shows some quick feet to wrong foot his marker and win a yard of space. He spots the run of Ninković and attempts to find him with a through ball but the pass runs just inches wide of the Serbian playmaker’s outstretched boot.
69’ REDMAYNE TERRIFIC SAVE: The Phoenix fail to convert a presentable chance, largely due to the good work of Redmayne who reads the situation well as the ball ping pongs around the box before being struck at goal. The Sydney FC goalkeeper is off his line early and ready to smother the chance.
73’ BROSQUE GOES NEAR WITH AMBITIOUS VOLLEY: Retre spots the run of Brosque and picks him out with a lofted pass. The Sky Blue skipper lets the ball bounce once before unleashing a delightful volley that is just whiskers wide from going in.
80’ SIMON AT THE BACK POST: Zullo is still looking lively late into the game and he escapes the attention of his marker again before standing a cross up to the back post. Simon outmuscles Durante but his header glances just wide of the goal.
Team News
Sydney FC 4 (Brosque 8’, Mierzejewski 14’, Ninković 74’, Carney 85’) def. Wellington Phoenix 0
Retre takes the place of the suspended O’Neill in the Sky Blues midfield. Lokolingoy also makes way as Simon and Zuvela come into the match day squad.
Ground: Allianz Stadium
Attendance: 10,220
Referee: Kris Griffiths-Jones
Sydney FC: 1. Andrew REDMAYNE (GK), 4. Alexander WILKINSON, 5. Jordy BUIJS, 6. Joshua BRILLANTE 7. Michael ZULLO, 8. Paulo RETRE, 9. BOBÔ (18. Matt SIMON, 68’), 10. Miloš NINKOVIĆ, 11. Adrian Mierzejewski, 14. Alex BROSQUE (17. David CARNEY, 79’), 26. Luke WILKSHIRE.
Subs Not Used: 30. Thomas HEWARD-BELLE (GK), 19. Christopher ZUVELA.
Yellow Card(s): Ninković 24’
Red Card(s): N/A
Wellington Phoenix: 1. Lewis ITALIANO (GK), 2. Daniel MULLEN, 3. Scott GALLOWAY (14. Alex RUFER, 84’), 4. Goran PARACKI, 7. Nathan BURNS, 8. Matija LJUJIC, 10. Michael MCGLINCHEY, 12. Adam PARKHOUSE, 13. Marco ROSSI (6. Dylan FOX, 34’), 22. Andrew DURANTE, 23. Matthew RIDENTON (26. Liberato CACACE, 53’).
Subs Not Used: 30. Keegan SMITH (GK), 24. Logan ROGERSON.
Yellow Card(s): Parkhouse 8’, Ridenton 29’
Red Card(s): N/A
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